Japanese Steel: Classic Bicycle Design from Japan Hardcover – October 16, 2018

I just spent a couple of days perusing this book. It looks sharp right out of the box. The design and photography in the book emulates the clean, modern, innovative vintage bikes it documents. While artistic enough to use as a slick coffee table book, the book also has incredibly detailed information that makes it equally appropriate in a reference library.Besides its obvious visual appeal given the subject matter and nicely executed layout and sharp photography, it holds a treasure trove of vintage bicycles sure to intrigue and delight enthusiasts—this book presents some forty stunning examples.For those interested in learning more about the individual brands and the makers, this book will be a solid resource.Finally, for those interested in Japanese design and industry, or in the greater history of the evolution of bicycles, there are interesting tidbits and compelling stories throughout, plus a timeline....in other words, there is lots of “meat on the bone” whether you’re into bicycles, Japanese design, etc.

I started making enough money to buy a nice bike in the 1980s, and Japanese makers were making some very nice bikes in the 1980s (one of which I still ride). I dream of acquiring a real classic from that era, and this book has made me no less enthusiastic about that dream. The author's collection is awe inspiring. The photography and the company histories make this book a joy to thumb through.

To be honest, I’m not normally much of a book guy. It’s not that I don’t like books, I just don’t have time to sit down and read them most of the time. That means that long leisure reads are typically not going to happen for me. On the other hand, I love a good coffee table book that I can browse through for a bit every now and then.In the interest of full disclosure, I have known about this book for quite some time now. The author, William Bevington, has reached out to me several times regarding the Panasonic segments within this book as I'm the Founder of the Panasonic Bicycles Virtual Museum. He’s truly a man with a passion for these bikes and a great stickler for detail. The majority of the bikes featured in this book happen to belong to my friend Nick.Upon first inspection you’re struck by just how much meat there is to this book. It has 240 beautifully printed pages in full color. The layout is very crisp and clean and the photography is visually stunning. As a lover of Japanese bicycles this book does not disappoint. It is a bit like a multi-layer cake with a lot of information being presented in each section.It is evident that the author spent considerable time doing research and trying to nail down the facts and specifications for each presented model. Having focused on just Panasonic bicycles here on the Virtual Museum web site, I cringe at the amount of effort required to pull off an undertaking of this magnitude while meeting publishing deadlines etc.Featured marques include:ArayaBridgestoneCenturionNishikiPanasonicMiyataFujiSan RenshoLotusTsunodaKabukiI was fortunate enough to do a pre publication review of the Panasonic content of this book for the author and was impressed by the depth of his research in terms of the people he had already been in touch with prior to contacting me. When I saw the page layouts and photography I had a very good feeling that this book was going to turn out nicely and I was correct. The finished book IS absolutely worth adding to your collection.If you love a good coffee table book that is more than just glossy photographs with captions you should definitely pick up a copy of this book while it is still available.

Excellent presentation, pictures, and documentation of Japanese frame makers with lots of interesting details. Well written and organized, with great pictures and stories from a unique part of cycling history. Would have been nice to see some of the original mountain bikes some of theses companies made included in the book, but it focuses on the road bike market and is still a big impressive book.Excellent shipping, protected in plastic wrap and cardboard, no damage at all.

Perhaps the best picture book as well as subject history for a specific time period of and type of bicycle. The book is astounding in the quality of production and clarity of design. Thoroughly modern printing techniques deliver crystal clear close ups, no detail is left out of the many pictures of Shimano, Suntour, Sugino, and Campagnolo components. The featured Japanese concerns are well represented, most interesting Panasonic, a somewhat less known maker.The frame colors and design cues step out of the page and give the reader a concrete understanding of the quality and excellence on display.Whole-heartedly recommended. Excellent reference material included as well with timelines and tubing specification history.